Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-07-23
Agnes stopped abruptly, and said, with


sobered by the change in her manner,
81 do not mean to be cross, but how
could l talk to you about my affection or
forgiveness through the telephone, with
all those fellows listening, to say nothing
of old Grulfl"
''But 1 have not touched the tele-
phone to-day, Harryp
seWhatl" exclaimed.
"Georgiew called Anges, stepping
back to the sitting-room, and 1 followed
to tell the story.
.'It is very strange" said Miss Peyton,
but, of course, it is some mistake. The
lines are out of order or crossed in som:
way. But mamma and Agnes and have
been out shopping all day, and we
lunched down town, so we can prove an
alibi."
1t certainly was very strange. but we
all concluded that it might be as Miss
George suggested, and the pater at
once began to spin long yarns about
queermessages, till at lastI coaxed Anges
into the conservatory alone, and the
close of the evening was all the brighter
for the shadow with which it began.
The dear girl sympathized with me,
and forgave my impatience, and
was so sweet, that before knew i
found myself telling her the one event of
my life had determined to keep secret
the ENHANCEMENT once had with Lu-
cretia Chase. OF course she had been
the most to blame, and Agnes thought
her very horrid and forward, SO had to
admit that Cretia had misunderstood
some things 1 had said to her when
mere boy, and then Agnes asked me if
I really, really loved her best. All mel
what happy evening that wasl
And the next day the telephone an
noyances began, but I felt sure of my
ground, and told Clarkson he could re-
fuse to listen. Imagine my surprise
when he turued to me with clever imi-
tation of Agnes's voice, saying:
''she is quite sure Harry will come
when he knows she wants to talk to him
about 'Cretia.'"
/ was thunderstruckl Lucretia Chase
lived in Vermont; 1 was morally sure no
one in the city knew Of her existence
no one but Agnesl 1 rushed to the in
strument. 1t was the clear girls voice.
How could any one have known that
Cretia possessed some idiotic lines l had
once written her-any one but Agnesl
Yet now heard them repeated: -
''Oh, Cretial fairest yalentinel
Wilt thou accept this hand of minei
A smaller gift nv soul forbids;
But TENS the number Of my kidsm
Ijerked away in anger and surprise,
only to meet old Gruff's grim glance.
'If this thing goes on, Mr.. Dixon, it
might be well for you and Mr.. Clarkson
to change desksw
knew what that implied, and my
heart sank to my boots.
'Tdo not understand Il myself" re-
piled. 81 assure you, sir, that am ex-
ceedingly annoyed. Twill not answer it
again"
81 will myself, SIR" he growled, and
Iwent back to my desk to upset my ink
bottle, 10 make mistakes in my accounts,
and torture myself with the conviction
that since no one but Agnes could have
sent the message, she was teasing me,
without realizing the fatal consequences
to our happiness. And sil day Mr..
Grufiand would answer that confounded
telephone. That some of the messages
were meant for me could tell. and that
they must be utter nonsense / could con-
lecture from his occasional comments:
by jimminy johnson 7 is a remarkable
expression for young lady, Mr. Dixon"
1t would be too long to tell the story
of these days in detail Sometimes there
would be respite, and then the nonsense
would begin again. 1t was larks for
Clarkson and the rest, but to me it seemed
as if the bell of the telephone was ringing
the knell of all my bright hopes. Agnes
assured me of her innocence, and Miss
Peyton was ready with explanations;
they had been shopping, or calling, or
practicing duets. But could see that
GOODNESS had come between Agnes and
me. She feared that doubted her, and
I-what could thinki Again and again
the messages referred to what had said
to her when quite alone. Could she have
repeated my confidencesl
At the Office preparations for the new
business were being hurried on, and not
one word had been said to me Of promo
ton. To crown all, Agnes informed me
one evening that she was going toshorten
her visit; she had heard Of friends going